Deep learning-based cardiovascular image diagnosis: A promising challenge

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a vital concept in medicine leading to a rapid emergence of important tools for medical diagnostics. Now, as a crucial machine learning tool in the field of computer vision, deep learning (DL) is being widely used in medical imaging. Furthermore, as reported in the medical literature, DL has been widely used in medical related research. However, the practical application of DL in clinical diagnosis is relatively small, and it is a new field that may have some challenges. How to effectively perform medical image analysis is a major problem in the field of disease diagnosis, and further diagnostic methods need to be developed. At this stage, DL could be viewed as a black box requiring knowledge of its internal workings, and hence presents some crucial technical challenges that need further methodological development. Thereafter with proper diagnostics, pre-operative computerized simulation planning can be carried out for use of appropriate surgical intervention technology. This paper presents important questions on cardiovascular disease (CVD) diagnostics, using this powerful and yet not adequately understood technology. It discusses issues brought by the paradigm shift of AI vis-a-vis DL in CVD diagnostics, provides possible solutions to potential issues, and envisions the future of the related machine intelligence applications. The discussed problems are dissected into the modular aspects of DL in relation to CVD image classification, segmentation, and detection. A proper perspective on management of these issues is the key to a successful technological implementation of DL in modern medical science.